Trump Doesn’t Budge After Meeting With Hochul Regarding Congestion Toll

By Idy Perl

After President Trump rescinded the federal policy that allowed the controversial congestion toll to get approved, Governor Hochul reportedly met with President Trump on Friday and presented a 22-page PowerPoint to try and convince him of the toll’s benefits, but it seems Trump wasn’t convinced. 

"Our city is paralyzed with gridlock, and we had a path forward to be able to make the city move again, and it's working. I just wanted to have that opportunity to convey that, but I don't think that we were very persuasive on that front but that's ok,” Hochul said after the meeting. “The people of my state need to know that I'm willing to take the fight wherever I have to.”

At the meeting Trump raised the point that the MTA loses more money from fare and toll evaders, a problem that can be fixed with increased police presence, than it is expected to raise from the toll. Since its inception in January, the controversial congestion toll has already brought in a revenue of $48.6 million.